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| The AJY Center in University Square |
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| My classroom in the AJY Center |
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| Horn of beer |
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Heidelberg Castle at night!  View of the castle from the Heiliggeist Kirche           |
Join me as I explore Germany and the rest of Europe while studying at Universität Heidelberg - Germany's most renowned university!
Monday, September 6, 2010
Vorbereitungskurs
Hey everyone! Sorry it's been a while since my last update. I have no internet connection in my room and it's not always convenient to lug my laptop around everyday so I've been putting this off until I had some free time! Everything in Heidelberg is going well! During the first weekend we had orientation sessions at the AJY center which is right on Hauptstrasse in the Heidelberg Altstadt. It's a pretty cool location and it's a 250 year old building. I spend a lot of time here! Aside from the orientation, I went grocery shopping! The store by my apartment is called Lidl and everything is really cheap so that is nice!!! I also went out with some friends to a cool restaurant and drank beer out of a horn, which was interesting. Then we went up to the ruins of Heidelberg castle which was somewhat foggy and creepy in the night. I also went to the Heiliggeist Kirche, which is the oldest church here. I went up to the top of the tower for only 60 cents and got to listen to a Mozart concert that was taking place in the sanctuary. The view from the top is AMAZING! On Monday we started our Vorbereitungskurs (or Preparatory Course in English). We took a fill-in-the-blank test to determine in which class we would be placed and it which was quite challenging! But, I ended up getting the 3rd highest score out of the 24 students here and was placed in the more advanced class! My teacher is Herr Doerr and he is a really funny older man. He kind of makes fun of everyone when they make mistakes but it's fun and I think he likes me. It's just been a challenging course since we are learning some intense grammar, like conjugating verbs in the situational passive voice in the subjunctive mood! But I love it...there goes my inner grammar freak :] On Monday evening, I went with a group of friends on the train to Mannheim. Although this study abroad program is somewhat expensive, it does have it's perks. We all have free train and bus transportation within the Rhein-Neckar area so that is very convenient!! Mannheim was interesting - much more modern than quaint little Heidelberg! On Tuesday we started a dinner group, which has been pretty fun! We usually meet at my friend Tom's apartment since his is closest to the AJY center and he has a big kitchen. So pretty much Tom from Ohio, Krista from NYC, Kaia from Alaska, Olivia from LA, Pat from Maine and I have been hanging out every night. We made pasta, soup, and chicken stir-fry. So it's been fun shopping and cooking and making new friends in the process!! On Friday we all walked around a neighborhood in Heidelberg and the went out to dinner at a nice German restaurant and then we went to a bar. I would not recommend cognac to any of you reading...unless you are partial to cough syrup :/ This past Saturday was also really fun! It was the first day that I didn't have anything planned! So, I slept in and then took an adventure to the Philosphenweg (Philosopher's Way). It is a steep trail up a "mountain" that philosophers would visit in the 19th century. Anyhow, it has some pretty great views of the Altstadt and Neckar River! After that, I explored a bit in the Altstadt and went to Lidl to pick up some more groceries!! Then I went out with my friends to a falafel restaurant...which I would also not recommend. Afterwards, we got ice cream and then headed to the old bridge for the Schlossbeleuchtung und Feuerwerke! Three times every summer, the castle is lit up and fireworks are shot off by the old bridge to recreate the attack on the Altstadt by the French. It was hands down the best fireworks show I have ever seen! The castle looked like it was actually on fire and the fireworks coming off the bridge over the river were incredible!!! So that was a lot of fun! Then we went to a night club called Jinx in the Altstadt. It was pretty fun dancing til 2 in the morning!! By that time we were starving and went to a doener shop. It was so good - one of the positives of all the Turkish immigrants in Germany! So, I've been incredibly busy but it's been fun. I'm glad that I'm experiencing a lot. I've only been in Heidelberg for a week, but it feels like I've been here forever...which is nice :]
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